Hello Lovelies,
Nothing brings me more joy than to feel inspired. Truly, nothing. And this summer has been about unearthing as much inspiration as I can possibly handle. I figured, if I’m actually going to jump off the cliff and shut down my storefront of 18 years, I might as well make it worth it. Do all the things I possibly can that’ll bring me pure unadulterated inspiration. I have not been disappointed.
The ancients described spa as both a place and a state of healing and of finding sanctuary. This is partly why I want to make a sarcastically beautiful coffee table book entitled Dive Spas of Chicago - we’ve digressed.
Healing sanctuary. I could spend an eternity cultivating a healing sanctuary. These two words resonate to my most inner core and something I’ve spent the better part of my life studying from various perspectives. I can simplify it further into one word: home.
The home is our spiritual center. “You have to learn that you are your home” is such a beloved verse from a poem by an obscure writer that hung on the wall of the room I stayed in on Greenwood Ave across from the UChicago Law School in Hyde Park when I first pulled into town. So true, wouldn’t you say?
Working outward, then, our actual home is part of the physical sanctuary we cultivate. What a perfect addition to your home is a concierge spa! It just happens to be my specialty, come to think of it. That is the vibe I want to incorporate for our visits together. A healing sanctuary in your home. I have several tips coming later as to how we can hone and prune this.
I’ve already seen several of you picking up on this vibe, too! It’s so exciting to see. One client, Lisa, who last Christmas showed me her little sanctuary room during her holiday party and has on several occasions told me how much she loves that space. Her sweet little pug, Aunt Bea, also loves it too. This is where she’s come to navigate us to meet. It’s such a cozy inner sanctuary. Another client, Lauren, who recently has converted her upstairs duplex into an extra space for the family/AirBnB has designated such a lovely space in the area surrounded by sun-filled windows. It’s so light and peaceful. What a joy. Another, Renee, has a sanctuary room already in the form of a kind of loft that opens out to a garden complete with summer vine-grown tomatoes and a view of Wrigley Field directly across the street. Many have lit candles, put on soft music. All these thoughtful and intentional offerings in the name of healing and sanctuary.
I am truly uplifted by watching you cultivate this idea and make it your own, all while probably not even being aware of it. So, let's challenge ourselves to look beyond the surface, beyond the "what" and explore the depths of the "why." Let's seek inspiration from our found purpose and allow it to guide us on our journey. Remember, it's not about achievements or possessions but how those accomplishments impact our sanctuary.
Maybe sanctuary isn’t something we escape to at all. Maybe it’s something we cultivate—slowly, deliberately, beautifully—in the place where we already live. And I’m finding there’s something incredibly inspiring about being invited into yours.
xx,
Tracey